The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-12-15

more than.the revenue. But included in the
expenditures for the past fiscal year Is $l43 100
which was advanced under the act approved
April 6, 1887 to the treasurers of the county fol
the support of public schools until the taxes
could be collected for that purpose. OF that
amount S107ol5 has already been returned.
"The disbursements also embrace special
appropriations to the building funds of the
Eastern, Western, Southwestern and Central
Lunatic Asylums and the Colored Normal
School, 1t also includes S52, POO paid to the Wash
ington and Lee University, being the last ar
rears Of interest due on bonds held by it, and
$4,000 used by the missioners of the sinking
fund in the purchase of Riddleberger bonds, 1t
also comprises the interest paid on Riddleber-
ger bonds and coupons forced into the treasury
which, being rede emed, represent interest on
the public debt. On the other and, in all cal
culations as to the amount of revenue In the
future, it must be remembered that the revenue
may be reduced in proportion to the adoption of
local option by the several cities and counties
The whole sum the State now derives from the
license tax on liquor is about 100000 per an.
mum. II must also be remembered that the
twelfth article 1.-THE constitution provides that
next year the vote must be taken whether a
convention shall meet in 1889 to revise the con-
stitution, and In case such convention shall be
called, financial provisions will have to be made
for its expenses. The number of tax-receivabIe
coupons outstanding at the end of the last IFS
cal year, namely the S0th of September, 1887
was 81, sos. The number of tax-receivable
coupons that found their way into the treasury
on judgments fer taxes during the last fiscal
year was SS1, $50.
"In this connection your attention is called
to the extract from the report of the second au-
ditor for the fiscal year ended September 30,
1887, in reference to the public debt, in table
marked No, 3, appended to the message. From
the facts and figures given draw these conclu-
sions First, both political parties agree that
the act approved the 14th of February S82 shall
be maintai One of these parties has held
no convention recently, but the other, and now
the governing party of the State lhas, In the
platform adopted at Roanoke as late as the 4th
of Aug. 1887 land upon which the members Of the
General Assembly stood and received their Ger
tlhcate of election, the democratic party stated
tn rough it's representatives there assembled,
that it approved the action of the legislative
committee at the debt conference land pledged
over again it's support to the act of 1882. Second
that the number of coupons coming into the
treasury in proportion to the cash revenue,
upon which the State depends to carry ION its
government, has not as yet crippled her schools
OF eleemosynary or educational institutions, or
oASSONet
Third, that the Commonwealth can still carry
out in good faith the act of 1882, because the OBJ
legations assumed are within her ability to
meet without default of interest and without
the taxes of her citizens
Inc Governor then reviews the history of the
passage a the special session in 1887 OF the act
known as the coupon crusher,' and the test
ing before the United States Supreme Court of
the legality of proceedings Instituted there
under the arrest of Attorney General Ayers
and other State officers, and their release on
haoeas corpus proceedings. In closing this top
ic, the message:
1.-THE full text of the decision has not vet
reached me, but the act approved the 18th day
of May, 1887, is recognized as valid In view of
the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the
United States, 1T may be reasonable to suppose
that the bondholders, as soon they consider
that decision, will be disposed to make q debt
settlement whose obligations can be faithfully
carried out without an increase of taxation L
would suggest to the General Assembly the
passage OF a joint resolution suspending for a
reasonable time the institution of all legal pro-
ceediEgs under the act passed May r. 1887. I
have assurances which deem entitled to con-
ddence, that the course 1 have suggested, if
adopted, will be attended with results satisfac-
tory to all concerned"
Among the other recommendations contained
in the Governors message is an increase of the
for the department of agriculture
to be provided for by tax on fertilizers or in
such other way as the Legislature may see Mt;
the establishment of a reformatory or 1ndustri-
al school for for criminals under IS years of age:
a system of monthly inspection OF all jails: 8
generous appropriation for the Confederate
soldiers Home here; the separation of the
State in geographical divisions to build new
and larger capitol with greater facilities for the
purposes of the State, OR erect suitable build.
ngs elsewhere for the accommodation of the
heads of departments for whom outside quar-
Iers have now to be rented
Orrnr, Ia. 4 III